Thursday, March 27, 2014

Follow US on Pinterest

 
Follow us on Pinterest.  We are asked a lot what we need, or what we would like to ship to Ukraine that they do not have there.  You can find it on our Pinterest page.  You can also find links to my blog, YouTube videos of our family singing, and news updates on Ukraine. 
 
 
 

Friday, March 21, 2014

Updates in Ukraine and in the ministry

Right now there is so much going on.  From what I have read, there is a lot of Russians being bused into eastern Ukrainian cities to start problems to give Russia a reason to come in and invade.  That's how all that got started in Crimea.  They want Ukraine, or at least the eastern part of it.  Russian news agencies, even the one's in the US are falsely reporting what is truly going on in Ukraine.  And  of course the US is no longer a treat to Putin because Obama told him they would not get the US military involved.  REALLY Obama???  Oh my, I'm just glad I never voted him into office!!!

I'm praying for Ukraine!
From the way it looks, as soon as all the "false Ukrainians" start calling in for Russia to help them, Russia will be invading eastern Ukraine.  (Unless God intervenes) It will turn out just like it did in Crimea.  If you look at The Republic of Georgia, you will see that the non-Russian ruled areas are more prosperous than the Russian ruled areas.  Russia annexing southern and eastern Ukraine will not help them, it will hurt them. 


Not sure where this leaves us as missionaries.  Will we eventually be able to go in to Kharkov??  Not sure.  We are earnestly praying that the Lord would help us to have discernment in what to do and where to go.  The O'Brien family is currently in a western Ukrainian town of Zhitomir.  They may be helping to start a work in the eastern part of town.  There are many deaf in that area with no deaf ministry.  Please help us to pray about this situation.  We what to be where God what's us to be.  It seems churches do not want to commit to supporting us because of what's going on in Ukraine.  They want to see if we are still going or not.  As long as there is not war and if it is safe for us, we will go.  There are still many missionaries in Ukraine that have not left.  Even if it means going to Western Ukraine to begin with, that may be what we will do.  We are just waiting on the Lord!  Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Friday, March 7, 2014

What a Blessing

What a busy and anxiety feel couple of days.  We started this last trip in Indiana in which I will talk about more later, then on to Ohio, and now we are in Pennsylvania.  It is cold here in Greenville.  Our main mission this week was for Brian, Briana, and I to get some dental work done. Brian needed fillings, I needed a pre-crown tooth pulled and some fillings, and poor Briana needed to get her wisdom teeth cut out.  You probably asking why we would come to PA to have this done instead of at home.  We were introduced to a dentist who gives missionaries free dental work.  I will not mention his name for the pure fact that there are missionaries that would take advantage of his kindness, and there already has been some that have. 

 
On Tuesday, we took Briana to get her wisdom teeth cut out.  I know she was very nervous about the whole procedure, I wish I could have went back there with her, but I guess with her being 20 years old that she could handle it.  When she came out of the anesthesia, she was crying and shaking, not something that you want to see your child doing when you go to sit with them during recovery.  They told me that was normal.  She tried talking to me, but I couldn't understand her with all the gauze in her mouth.  If she was talking out of her head, it's a good thing I couldn't understand her, because I would have noted it and told her children about it...lol...anyway...she did great, PTL!!!  Only a little discomfort, until this afternoon.  I tried to get her to stay home from church, but she insisted on going.  About the end of the service, she started hurting a lot and got very pale.  I checked her when we got back and she was running a low-grade temperature and really in a lot of pain.  Couldn't figure out why, because we had been very careful to keep up her pain meds. But praise the Lord, she started to feel some better and was able to go to sleep. 

So now, I am a little more relaxed than I was.  With all that has been going on in Ukraine and with the boys having colds, and bleeding noses, and Briana in pain, my anxieties were having anxieties again.  It's very hard to even think about sleep with all this going on!  But I am so thankful to Pastor Troyer, his wife and family for there kindness to us in letting us stay with them during this time.  What a blessing.

As I mentioned before, we started our northern mini-vaca (LOL) in Indiana... the meeting there went absolutely wonderful.  I praise God that He was able to use us as we ministered in song during the service.  The Pastor told us it really helped him.  What a blessing.  The Lord so moved in the services the Pastor didn't even preach!  Wow, I'm also so thankful for when the Lord shows up and show off :)  It's also a blessing and encouragement when the Lord uses us as we try to use our talents for His glory!!!